Cardiff Blues : News : Williams to Captain Wales

On Saturday 11th May the Vale of Glamorgan Schools U11s retained the DC Thomas Cup with a 7 tries to 2 victory over Newport Schools at the Millennium Stadium in an excellent display of running rugby

Teams Connacht v Blues Teams Connacht Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Connacht Rugby (A) Opposition Connacht (A) 9-13 HT 0-13 Match Report Opposition Connacht Rugby Venue Sportsground Time KO 17:00 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Connacht Form L W L D L Teams Blues v Edinburgh Teams Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh Rugby Opposition Edinburgh Rugby (H) Opposition Edinburgh (H) 19-21 HT 9-8 Match Report Opposition Edinburgh Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Edinburgh Form W W L L W Teams Dragons v Blues Teams Newport Gwent Dragons v Cardiff Blues Opposition Newport Gwent Dragons (A) Opposition Dragons (A) 5-16 HT 5-3 Match Report Opposition Newport Gwent Dragons Venue Rodney Parade Time KO 18:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Dragons Form L L L W L Teams Blues v Treviso Teams Cardiff Blues v Benetton Treviso Opposition Benetton Treviso (H) Opposition Treviso (H) 34-18 HT 17-3 Match Report Opposition Benetton Treviso Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 18:30 Referee Fitzgibbon Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Treviso Form W L W D W Teams Blues v Ulster Teams Cardiff Blues v Ulster Rugby Opposition Ulster Rugby (H) Opposition Ulster (H) 19-48 HT 9-17 Match Report Opposition Ulster Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Ulster Form L W W W W Teams Blues v Glasgow Teams Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors Opposition Glasgow Warriors (H) Opposition Glasgow (H) 3-18 HT 3-12 Match Report Opposition Glasgow Warriors Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 18:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Glasgow Form W L W W L Teams Sharks v Blues Teams Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues Opposition Sale Sharks (A) Opposition Sharks (A) 34-33 HT 12-24 Match Report Opposition Sale Sharks Venue Salford City Stadium Time KO 12:45 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Sharks Form W D W L W Teams Blues v Toulon Teams Cardiff Blues v Toulon Opposition Toulon (H) Opposition Toulon (H) 14-22 HT 8-6 Match Report Opposition Toulon Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 12:45 Referee Clancy Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Toulon Form W L W W W Teams Leinster v Blues Teams Leinster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Leinster Rugby (A) Opposition Leinster (A) 59-22 HT 40-3 Match Report Opposition Leinster Rugby Venue Royal Dublin Society Time KO 18:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Leinster Form W W W W W Teams Blues v Munster Teams Cardiff Blues v Munster Rugby Opposition Munster Rugby (H) Opposition Munster (H) 18-24 HT 3-10 Match Report Opposition Munster Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Munster Form W L L L W Teams Blues v Wasps Teams Cardiff Blues v London Wasps Opposition London Wasps (H) Opposition Wasps (H) 22-17 HT 7-14 Match Report Opposition London Wasps Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Wasps Form L L L L L Teams Scarlets v Blues Teams Scarlets v Cardiff Blues Opposition Scarlets (A) Opposition Scarlets (A) 22-16 HT 13-13 Match Report Opposition Scarlets Venue Parc y Scarlets Time KO 18:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Scarlets Form W W W L L Teams Zebre v Blues Teams Zebre v Cardiff Blues Opposition Zebre (A) Opposition Zebre (A) 7-14 HT 7-5 Match Report Opposition Zebre Venue Stadio XXV Aprile Time KO 15:00 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Zebre Form L L L L L Teams Ospreys v Blues Teams Ospreys v Cardiff Blues Opposition Ospreys (A) Opposition Ospreys (A) 33-12 HT 16-6 Match Report Opposition Ospreys Venue Liberty Stadium Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Ospreys Form W W W L L Teams Blues v Montpellier Teams Cardiff Blues v Montpellier Opposition Montpellier (H) Opposition Montpellier (H) 24-35 HT 15-19 Match Report Opposition Montpellier Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 12:45 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Montpellier Form W W W W L Teams Montpellier v Blues Teams Montpellier v Cardiff Blues Opposition Montpellier (A) Opposition Montpellier (A) 34-21 HT 17-8 Match Report Opposition Montpellier Venue Time KO 19:00 Referee Garner Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Montpellier Form W W W W L Teams Blues v Scarlets Teams Cardiff Blues v Scarlets Opposition Scarlets (H) Opposition Scarlets (H) 6-9 HT 3-9 Match Report Opposition Scarlets Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Scarlets Form W W W L L Teams Blues v Dragons Teams Cardiff Blues v Newport Gwent Dragons Opposition Newport Gwent Dragons (H) Opposition Dragons (H) 12-10 HT 9-0 Match Report Opposition Newport Gwent Dragons Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 14:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Dragons Form L L L W L Teams Munster v Blues Teams Munster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Munster Rugby (A) Opposition Munster (A) 6-17 HT 3-3 Opposition Munster Rugby Venue Musgrave Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Owens Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Munster Form W L L L W Teams Toulon v Blues Teams Toulon v Cardiff Blues Opposition Toulon (A) Opposition Toulon (A) 45-25 HT 19-8 Match Report Opposition Toulon Venue Stade Mayol Time KO 14:35 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Toulon Form W L W W W Teams Blues v Sharks Teams Cardiff Blues v Sale Sharks Opposition Sale Sharks (H) Opposition Sharks (H) 26-14 HT 9-7 Match Report Opposition Sale Sharks Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 15:40 Referee Fitzgibbon Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Sharks Form W D W L W Teams Saracens v Blues Teams Saracens v Cardiff Blues Opposition Saracens (A) Opposition Saracens (A) 19-11 HT 6-8 Opposition Saracens Venue Allianz Park Time KO 15:00 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Saracens Form W L L W L Teams Blues v L Irish Teams Cardiff Blues v London Irish Opposition London Irish (H) Opposition L Irish (H) 10-6 HT 7-3 Match Report Opposition London Irish Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L L Irish Form W D L W L Teams Blues v Leinster Teams Cardiff Blues v Leinster Rugby Opposition Leinster Rugby (H) Opposition Leinster (H) 11-26 HT 3-23 Match Report Opposition Leinster Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Fitzgibbon Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Leinster Form W W W W W Teams Edinburgh v Blues Teams Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Edinburgh Rugby (A) Opposition Edinburgh (A) 16-17 HT 6-14 Match Report Opposition Edinburgh Rugby Venue Murrayfield Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Edinburgh Form W W L L W Teams Blues v Connacht Teams Cardiff Blues v Connacht Rugby Opposition Connacht Rugby (H) Opposition Connacht (H) 22-26 HT 8-15 Match Report Opposition Connacht Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Connacht Form L W L D L Teams Glasgow v Blues Teams Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues Opposition Glasgow Warriors (A) Opposition Glasgow (A) 29-13 HT 10-13 Match Report Opposition Glasgow Warriors Venue Scotstoun Time KO 19:35 Referee Clancy Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Glasgow Form W L W W L Teams Treviso v Blues Teams Benetton Treviso v Cardiff Blues Opposition Benetton Treviso (A) Opposition Treviso (A) 26-17 HT 13-10 Match Report Opposition Benetton Treviso Venue Stadio di Monigo Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Treviso Form W L W D W Teams Blues v Ospreys Teams Cardiff Blues v Ospreys Opposition Ospreys (H) Opposition Ospreys (H) 16-23 HT 10-20 Match Report Opposition Ospreys Venue Millennium Stadium Time KO 17:15 Referee Owens Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Ospreys Form W W W L L Teams Blues v Zebre Teams Cardiff Blues v Zebre Opposition Zebre (H) Opposition Zebre (H) 28-13 HT 21-6 Match Report Opposition Zebre Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 14:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Zebre Form L L L L L Teams Scarlets v Blues Teams Scarlets v Cardiff Blues Opposition Scarlets (A) Opposition Scarlets (A) 24-6 HT 10-6 Match Report Opposition Scarlets Venue Parc y Scarlets Time KO 18:30 Referee Owens Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Scarlets Form W W W L L Teams Ulster v Blues Teams Ulster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Ulster Rugby (A) Opposition Ulster (A) 37-13 HT 10-13 Opposition Ulster Rugby Venue Ravenhill Time KO 19:45 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Ulster Form L W W W W Teams v Teams v Opposition () Opposition () Ticket Information Tickets {FixBroadcast} Opposition Venue Referee Previous Meeting Form Form

Injured squad captain Ryan Jones has withdrawn and is replaced at No 8 by Gloucester Rugby's Gareth Delve in one of three changes to the starting line-up.

Scarlets and British & Irish Lions hooker Matthew Rees also returns to the side with Osprey Huw Bennett, who started the defeat to France at the Millennium Stadium last time out, moving to the bench. Dragons second row Luke Charteris keeps his spot after coming on for the injured Deiniol Jones (Blues) early in the first half of the Friday night fixture.

Elsewhere Wales head coach Warren Gatland has said 'same again' to his back line for the third game in a row and made two changes on the bench with the inclusion of Sale Sharks scrum half Dwayne Peel in place of Osprey Mike Phillips and lock Ian Gough (Ospreys) taking the berth vacated by Charteris.

"We have taken the decision not to include any players who are unable to take a full part in training in the build up to the Ireland game," said Gatland.

"This Ireland side will be meticulous in its planning and for this game in particular we need to get our preparation exactly right and once we had reached that conclusion a couple of selection decisions were really made for us.

"Ryan has been managing his calf, but it has hampered his involvement in training and he needs to get it right for his own sake as well as for his region, who have some big matches of their own coming up, and for the sake of the national cause as we countdown to the World Cup.

"Mike (Phillips) is carrying a knock which he picked up on Ospreys duty at the weekend and so was not in contention.

"But this is an opportunity for Martyn, who is one of our key leaders, to captain Wales again and rise to that challenge after doing a good job against Scotland last year when Ryan was again forced to withdraw."

Williams captains his country for the seventh time and also wins his 95th cap, making him Wales' most capped forward and now just five appearances behind the country's most capped player Gareth Thomas. It will be Delve's first appearance in a Welsh jersey since the 2nd Test v South Africa in Pretoria on 14 June, 2008 and his first start in the RBS 6 Nations.

"This is also a great opportunity for Gareth Delve, who we have been keeping a close eye on and who is also a leader himself. We feel we have a loose forward trio here who can be competitive," Gatland continued.

"Matthew (Rees) comes in for Huw (Bennett) and offers us his experience. We were please with Huw's performance against France, his stats around the field were fantastic, but we are looking for 50 or 60 minutes out of Matthew to maybe give us a little more stability in the set-piece.

"Ireland are an impressive and experienced side with a pack of players who have been around for a long time and who are tough players. We meet them after a good win against England and a loss to France by a scoreline which probably flattered the French.

"We know we need to improve but we do think we have the talent and ability in this squad to match any squad and confident we are good enough to win this match if we can get things right on the day."

WALES: Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Richie Rees; Paul James, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams (Captain), Gareth Delve
REPLACEMENTS: Huw Bennett, Rhys Gill, Ian Gough, Sam Warburton, Dwayne Peel, Andrew Bishop, Tom Shanklin

WALES

15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,041)
DoB: 01.06.80. 6'3" / 1.91m. 15st 1lb / 96kgs
International record: 30 caps (W 13, L 16, D 1; 40 pts - 8T)

14 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,060)
DoB: 22.12.88. 5'10" / 1.77m. 12st 11lbs / 81kgs
International record: 13 caps (W 6, L 7; 53 pts - 7T, 6PG)

13 James HOOK (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 14st 10lbs / 93kgs
International record: 40 caps (W 17, L 22, D 1; 214 pts - 7T, 34C, 35PG, 2DG)

12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6'4" / 1.93m. 16st 10lbs / 107kgs
International record: 19 caps (W 9, L 10; 5 pts - 1T)

11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS - Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5'7" / 1.71m. 12st 11lbs / 81kgs
International record: 71 caps (W 34, L 35, D 2; 250 pts - 50T)

10 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS - Cap No 966)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6'1" / 1.86m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 86 caps (W 38, L 46, D 2; 764 pts - 7T, 126C, 154PG, 5DG)

9 Richard REES (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,072)
DoB: 21.05.83. 5'11" / 1.80m. 12st 7lb / 79kgs
International record: 3 caps (W 1, L 2)

1 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,021)
DoB: 13.05.82. 6'1" / 1.86m. 18st 4lbs / 116kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 4, L 4)

2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 3lbs / 109kgs
International record: 34 caps (W 16, L 17, D 1; 10 pts - 2T)

3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6'0" / 1.83m. 19st 10lb / 125kgs
International record: 59 caps (W 30, L 27, D 2; 10 pts - 2T)

4 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6'6" / 1.98m. 18st 11lbs / 119kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 5, L 3)

5 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS - Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6'9" / 2.06m. 10st 5lbs / 129kgs
International record: 20 caps (W 10, L 10)

6 Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,013)
DoB: 27.12.82. 6'5" / 1.96m. 17st 13lbs / 114kgs
International record: 53 caps (W 26, L 25, D 2; 35 pts - 7T)

7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN - Cap No 944)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 2lbs / 96kgs
International record: 94 caps (W 42, L 49, D 3; 73 pts - 14T, 1DG)

8 Gareth DELVE (GLOUCESTER RUGBY - Cap No 1,043)
DoB: 30.12.82. 6'3" / 1.91m. 17st 13lbs / 114kgs
International record: 9 caps (W 4, L 5; 5 pts - 1T)

REPLACEMENTS

16 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,017)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6'0" / 1.83m. 16st 10lbs / 106kgs
International record: 30 caps (W 17, L 13)

17 Rhys GILL (SARACENS)
DoB: 30.10.86. 5'11" / 1.80m. 17st 4lbs / 110kgs
International record: Uncapped

18 Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS - Cap No 964)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6' 6" / 1.98m. 18st 11lbs / 119kgs
International record: 61 caps (W 29, L 29, D 3; 5 pts - 1T)

19 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,070)
DoB: 05.10.88. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: 4 caps (W 3, L 1)

20 Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS - Cap No 994)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5'9" / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 72 caps (W 34, L 36, D 2; 25 pts - 5T)

21 Andrew BISHOP (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,059)
DoB: 07.08.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 6, L 2)

22 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 993)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 65 caps (W 31, L 33, D 1; 100 pts - 20T)

Ticket Office	029 20 30 20 30
General	029 20 30 20 00

Contact the Ticket Office

029 20 30 20 30

Ticket office opening hours

Search the Site

Williams to Captain Wales

Contact Us